Teaching and Learning Tools

Blackboard is Stony Brook University's learning management system (LMS), which allows instructors to supplement face-to-face classes, or launch online classes. Blackboard includes a variety of features that allow instructors to do anything from uploading course documents, to posting an announcement, to collecting and grading assignments. For students, Blackboard offers an easy way to contact instructors, download and access course documents, and check grades.

Captioning is a valuable service that faculty can request in order to enhance their educational video content. Captions can help viewers absorb the content more efficiently and when used in conjunction with SBCapture, captions can be used to search the video for specific content.

Stony Brook University utilizes Turning Technologies' polling clickers for interactive, wireless, student responses in classrooms and large lecture halls. TurningPoint Cloud allows instructors to float a poll bar above any application, and gives the ability to track each student's performance data generated during a lesson or team activity. This tracking produces student and class performance reports with respect to lessons.

Stony Brook University values student feedback in maintaining the high quality education it provides and is committed to the course evaluation process.... giving students a chance to provide information and feedback to an instructor which allows for development and improvement of courses.

ePortfolios, powered by Digication, are a type of digital portfolio utilized by students and faculty to document their professional development and establish a positive online presence. With an ePortfolio, students and faculty can create online archives of their achievements, professional experience, academic work, personal hobbies and more. ePortfolios can be used as an extension of a resume to market yourself to prospective employers.

Commonly referred to as Echo, Echo 360 is a versatile and reliable system that automatically captures lectures and converts classroom voice, video,and visual-aids into high quality media files. These media files can be accessed on-line from devices such as iPods, MP3 players, phones, and computers. Instructors can also utilize Personal Capture, which allows them to record from their own computers.

Google Apps for Education is the primary email system for everyone at Stony Brook University except Hospital employees and members of the School of Medicine and School of Dental Medicine. Stony Brook's Google Apps suite of products includes Mail, Calendar, Drive, Contacts, Sites, Groups, Hangouts and a host of other applications to enhance communication and real-time collaboration across campus.

Maple T.A. is a quizzing program inside Blackboard that is particularly valuable for any course using mathematics. Maple T.A. provides an easy-to-use Web-based system for creating tests and assignments, automatically assessing student responses and performance. It supports complex, free-form entry of mathematical equations and intelligent evaluation of responses, making it ideal for mathematics, science, or any course that requires mathematics.

The TLT Multimedia Lab has a duplication machine that is capable of doing short-run DVD duplication of up to 50 DVD/CDs at a time as well as format conversions. Faculty who supply the media may use the machine for free. The lab also has the capability of self-service, short-run tape duplications (VHS MiniDV).

Stony Brook University is a NERCOMP Member
NERCOMP cultivates communities of practice around information and technology, promotes strategic partnerships, and advances innovation and leadership in educational institutions across the Northeastern United States.

To reduce the burden of grading on SB faculty, DoIT's TLT OpScan Office provides test-scanning services for multiple-choice exams and tests using bubble sheets for any course offered through the Registrar on East or West Campus.

SafeAssign is software built into the Blackboard learning management system which checks several sources for potential plagiarism. SafeAssign helps instructors make informed decisions about reporting students for academic dishonesty.

A podcast is a method to deliver content, mostly audio and/or video. The two main advantages of podcasting over streaming is that the podcast is subscribed to and content is delivered in a way that makes it accessible even when you are not at your computer.

Qualtrics is a hosted survey and research tool that Stony Brook University has subscribed to in order to conduct quality surveys with the end result of collecting and analyzing data. Qualtrics is the tool used by Stony Brook's own Center for Survey Research. It is available to all students, faculty, and staff who have an active NetID.

SBConnect is a powerful system used for online collaboration and Web conferencing. It is available at Stony Brook University for departments and courses, and is managed and provided by the Teaching, Learning + Technology Department (TLT). With SBConnect, you can communicate ideas by sharing your desktop, virtual whiteboards, documents, powerpoint presentations and video files; using a webcam, microphone and/or chat window. These sessions can be recorded as podcasts or on-demand sessions.

Most SINC Sites are public computer labs that allow users to access both Windows & Mac computers.
* Some SINC Sites are for classroom purposes only. Please read site informtion listed.
SINC Sites provide Pharos printing services, scanners and access to numerous academic software titles.
These computer labs are located in many of the academic buildings on campus and have scheduled open hours.
TLT computers & printers are also available in the Melville Library Reading Rooms.

Conduct video conferences for up to 250 participants and (coming soon) 10,000 viewers. You can share your desktop or slides, chat, carry out polls, view results and collaborate using whiteboard all in real-time. Sessions can be recorded directly onto your computer as MP4 files.

The Virtual SINC Site provides a way for students, faculty, and staff members to access site-licensed, academic software titles directly from their personal computers from either on or off campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Students can also use the Virtual SINC Site to access the Print From Anywhere service using any device or operating system.